Heart-wrenching vigil for Awaab Ishak

Date published: 21 November 2022

A moving and emotional vigil for Awaab Ishak was held in Rochdale town centre on Saturday (19 November) as his family pleaded for the little boy’s death to not be in vain.

Vast numbers of mourners attended the vigil at Number One Riverside; Awaab died in December 2020 as a result of a severe respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home, which Rochdale Boroughwide Housing managed.

Christian Weaver, Counsel and part of the legal team, read the following statement on behalf Awaab’s parents, saying: “Awaab’s family had hoped that following the remarks of the coroner at the closing of the inquest into their son’s death - namely that this should be a ‘defining moment’ for the housing sector; that immediate action would be taken by Rochdale Borough Housing (RBH).

“The family were deeply saddened that following this inquest, RBH did nothing but express their confidence in their chief executive Gareth Swarbrick, despite in the courtroom, doing everything to indicate that significant changes would be made.

“The fact that RBH’s chief executive had to be sacked as opposed to resigning, for the family speaks volumes; however, they find it wholly unacceptable that the board expressed confidence in him in the first place.”
 

Read more: Gareth Swarbrick sacked by RBH board in u-turn after previously backing the chief exec to stay in positionPublished: 20 November 2022

“The family still feels that much more needs to be done and a further statement will be released in due course.

“Nonetheless in the meantime, the family would like to thank the public for their support. It has kept them strong at a time when they have felt at their weakest. They feel the public support has played a vital role in RBH’s chief executive being sacked. 

“The family would now urge you to go online and sign the petition calling for an Awaab’s law, which can be found at: www.change.org/p/awaab-s-law-to-prevent-any-more-children-dying-from-damp-and-mouldy-social-housing.

“Awaab’s death must not be in vain.

“They do not want any other family to go through the devastation that they have.”